April is looking to be a bit of a busy month at FIL towers, we've got some really great shows and a couple of releases to tell you about - in addition to the ongoing and much needed spring clean of our little corner of the internet...


First up are New Zealanders Die! Die! Die!, who play The Cumberland Arms on Saturday 5 April. Having already blazed across the States the band are heading to the UK to promote their second full length album 'Promises, Promises' on SAF records. Produced by NZ alt-pop luminary Shayne Carter (of Flying Nun fame), it contains some absolutely explosive sounds which you'll have the pleasure of being able to take in live, such as the melodic Sideways, Here We Come, the fierce and pounding Blinding and the surging, off-kilter Britomart Sunset. In support we've got Spraydog and Lake Me.

More details: fakeindielabel.co.uk/fil088


On Tuesday 8 April we've got 4 or 5 Magicians, from Brighton, playing at The Head of Steam - described by Music Week as "a believable British retort to the drawling rambles of Stephen Malkmus", we're hearing a brilliant British Pinkerton-era Weezer sound and can't wait to see them live. Also on the bill are lovely, Lamacq approved new-wave popsters New Statesmen from County Durham, and My Tulip.

More details: fakeindielabel.co.uk/fil090


Our last gig of the month is on Monday 28 April, again at The Head of Steam, and features French instrumentalists Crëvecoeur (pictured). Tasty Fanzine described their sound as having "a definite tilt towards dusty roads, spaghetti westerns and Mariachi music - Quentin Tarantino or Robert Rodriguez could be lurking just around the corner, or Serge Leone could be pulling the strings behind the scenes." A must for fans of Pascal Comelade, Ennio Morricone, Calexico or Yann Tiersen. Chippewa Falls and Preslav Literary School are in support.

More details: fakeindielabel.co.uk/fil091


On the releases front, we're chuffed as mustard to announce that Sweetness, Yes! - the debut album from electro/guitar pop wunderkinds Moira Stewart - is officially released on Monday 14 April. Released in conjunction with our good buddies Distraction Records, it's already pulling in props and radio play from the likes of Steve Lamacq, Rob Da Bank, Huw Stevens, Marc Riley and Stephen Merchant, and was featured on Yoof TV Phenomenon Skins a few episodes ago. Yikes. The launch party on Sunday 13 April promises to be a pretty special event too - we're in negotiations with The Head of Steam regarding a temporary lift of the Glitter-and-Silly-String embargo brought in following one Moirageddon too many... As well as a live set from Moira Stewart, the bill also features Mackem surf-pop scientists The Bubble Project and bric-a-brac techno from Emergency Librarian. As a special treat, the evening will be compered by Mr Dave Harper, who has promised spoken word action that sits "Somewhere between Dane Bowers and Gandhi."

More details: fakeindielabel.co.uk/cbc003


Finally for this month, just to let you know that - despite not being officially available until May - advance copies of Minotaurs debut vinyl release, the glorious Anyone who had a heart EP are available now from our shop. Pressed on Heavyweight 12" vinyl, and with artwork provided by Rob Ryan, it looks about as beautiful as it sounds. For those sans record players, this release is also available as a download through our shop. Keep an ear to the ground for news of an RPM instore performance to mark the official release next month.

More details: fakeindielabel.co.uk/cbc004

Labels: news